Develop an introduction and short outline to “map” or plan your literary analysis.
Choose ONE character from The lottery- Shirley Jackson
For full points, your outline should have:
full introductory paragraph with the assertion that clearly answers the prompt: Who is the most compelling character? Why?
a minimum of TWO Main Points (I. & II.)
a minimum of 3 sub-points for each main point (A. B. C.), one of which should be textual evidence
use complete sentences that clearly support your claim
MLA format (set up the doc, use in-text citations in the outline, and add a Works Cited page)
While there are many ways this could be analyzed, here is one example of content (note: the labels and bold text are here to illustrate this model only- your paper will follow standard MLA):
Example: Poor Fortunato
With only two characters in the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” character development is everything. As a villain, Montresor’s narcissistic psychology is sufficiently profiled. However, of perhaps greater interest, is how Edgar Allan Poe achieves the necessary blurring of arrogance and innocence in the development of Fortunato.
I. Fortunato is compelling as a stereotypical, arrogant connoisseur.
A. Poe deliberately designs an annoying, prideful character who, much like the bells on his costume, immediately gets on the reader’s nerves.
B. Fortunato brags that “Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry” (Poe 15) and in the process, chastises Montresor for even suggesting someone else.
C. Fortunato’s drunkenness and brash speech makes him unlikeable and allows the reader to initially want to see how far Montresor will actually go.
II. However, the reader cannot help but sympathize with Fortunato’s realization that he has been betrayed by someone he called “friend.”
A. Even with Fortunato’s arrogance and alleged insults, the premeditated deception and cruelty of the crime is not justified.
B. Poe curiously leaves out any detail of the “insult” in order to keep the reader initially unclear about which man has been most wronged, but the question of whether Fortunato is even aware of his alleged transgression is suddenly in the forefront.
C. Fortunato has been endeared with just enough innocence and naiveté to invoke empathy from the reader in the end.
D. “For the love of God, Montresor!” (Poe 19), he helplessly pleads for his life before being silenced forever by a man he excitedly shook hands with a short time before.
Works Cited
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado.” Literature: A portable anthology, 4th edition. Edited by Janet Gardner, Beverly Lawn,
Jack Ridl, and Peter Schakel, 2017, pp. 14-20. Poor Fortunato
